Telephone cabinet and table lamp



Feb. 3, 1931'. 'Gf K. THoMPsoN 1,790,776

TELEPHONE CABINET AND TABLE LAMP Filed Nov, l5, 1929 ATTOR N EY Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE K. THOMPSON, OF IvIAPLEWOOD, tN EW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN TELE- PHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK TELEPHONE CABINET AND TABLE LAMP Application filed November 13, 1929.' Serial No. 406,852. I

This invention relates to a combined telephone cabinet and electric lamp.

An object of the invention is to provide a cabinet adapted to serve as a housing for enclosing and concealing all the instrumentalities required at a telephone substation including a handset, induction coil, switch, dial, ringer, condenser, cord take-up and terminals, and also to serve for supporting an electric lamp.

Another object is to provide an arrangement of the above character which requires a minimum space, is simple in its construction, attractive in appearance and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be further explained in the .following detailed description having references to the accompanying drawing consisting of the following v Afigures. c

Figure l is a view in side elevation showing the door of the telephone cabinet opened.

Fig. 2 is a view of the improved device rotated 90 degrees from the position shown 1n 3o Fig. 1, and with part of the side wall broken awa Fiyg. 3 is a side view of the supporting plate upon which the elements comprising all the equipment required at a telephone substation is mounted.

Fig. 4f is' a front view of the supporting plate.

Referring to the drawing, in which the 1mroved telephone cabinet and electric lamp are illustrated, the various exterior elements while shown of a certaincrossssectional form may be circular, square or other desired form. The body structure comprises a hollow base 5 which supports side walls 6 and a door 7. ,45 The door is hinged to the base and said door with the side walls provide a chamber 'or compartment in which the telephone equipment is positioned. The door 7 is adapted to be swung outwardly as shown in Figs. and 2 to permit access to the telephone equipment within the compartment, and a memorandum pad 7 may be carried on said door. Suitable fastenings are provided to keep the door closed at times when the telephone is not in use. Top walls 8 are supported on the side walls 6, and spaced openings 9 may be provided in said top walls. The top walls 8 are sh-own in the present instancey as converging vto an apex upon which electric ixtures, in-

cluding sockets and their contained electric lamps 10, are suitably mounted. The electric lamps besides furnishing light to illuminate the vicinity in which the improved device is positioned, also reflects light rays through the openings 9 in the walls 8 to illuminate the interior of the chamber formed by the walls 6 and door 7. A shade 11 may be supported upon the electric light fixture,as shown, or upon the top walls in any suitable manner.

A supporting plate 12 is mounted within the lower chamber upon a bracket 13 which is aiixed to a horizontal strap 13 extending across and having its angular ends attached to opposite sides of the walls 6. The plate 12 may be composed of any suitable material, and may be substantially `rectangular in shape and of equal thickness throughout. It extends downwardly from the bracket 13 to a point near its center. At such point it is bent to form a sloping wall 14 which connects with a bottom vertical'portion 15 that is offset with respect to the upper portion. The portion 15. is connected to a horizontal plate 16 which lies perpendicular thereto. This latter plate may be of the same material width and thickness as that of the plate 12, and may be formed integral therewith. The plate 16 rests upon parallel tracks 16 positioned on the base 5.

A ringer 17 comprising a magnet, coils and gongs is secured to the upper portion 4of the plate 12 by an angular bracket 17. A dial 18 is mounted on the sloping portion 14 of said plate by means of studs which pass through the dial and plate. This dial operates in a well known manner to sendeleotrical impulses to a central office over the line conductor. Theplate 16 has a cup-like member 19 fulcrumed thereto at its approximate center. This plate also carries a series or bank of contact springs 20 which are positioned at an edge thereof. The cup-like member 19 serves to support the transmitter portion of a handset- 21 and the upper end or receiver portion of the handset may rest as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 against the front side of the plate 12. An extended inger 22 of the cupflike member engages the springs 2O so that 'bly removing and replacing the handset, connection and disconnection is mader between the contacts of these springs to control a line signa-l at a central office in the usual manner. An inductionv coil 23 is attached to the rear side ot the plate 12, and a condenser '24 issuitably mounted onV they plate 16 adjacent the springs 20. The handset, comprising the receiver and transmitter elements, is provided with the usual connecting cord which extends to a cord take-up 25. The cord take-upl may be mounted on' the plate 16 by any suitable support such for instance as is indicated at 25". permits the withdrawal of the handset from the compartment of the cabinet and Jfunctions in the usual manner totake up excess length of the cord when the handset is returned.

The supporting plate 12 thus provides a mounting for the entire equipment required at a telephone substation. The terminals of these elementsare connected together by conductors in a Well understood manner.

These conductors have been eliminated for the sake of clearness in the showing of the various instrumentalities. A cord' 26 which extends through a bushing in the side wall 6 connects the terminals 26 of the substation equipment to the line conductor leading to the central office'.

The nelectric lights 10 are connected by means of a cord 27 which` is introduced through a bushing in the hollow base and extends through a conduit 28y which is positioned on one side of thecabinet.

The substation unit carried by the supporting plate: may be removed in its entirety from the cabinet by removing the screw Y which holds the plate attached to the supporting bracket, and sliding it outwardly on its parallel tracks through opening provided for the door.

It will be apparent that by means of this improved device a combined telephone cabinet and electric light holder is provided in a novel and artistic manner. The various instrumentalities including the lamp and the several units of telephone substation equipment which have heretofore occupied separate spaces and different locations have been combined to form one unit which requires only a minimum space. The light from the bulbs which is emitted throughv the openings in the ltop walls so illuminates the interior of the casing that suilicient light is provided This cord take-up to readily7 see the numbers and letters appearing on the dial.

While the arrangements of this invention have been illustrated as embodied in a certainspecific form which has been deemed desirable, it will be understood that they are capable of embodiment in many and widely varied forms without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.-

Vhat is claimed is:

1.V A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder' comprising a base having side and top walls, a cup-like `member pivotally mounted within the said walls ot said cabinet, a handset adapted to rest on said cup-like member, switching means controlledby said cup-like member, and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

2'. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls,.a supporti-ng plate mountedrwit'hin the cabinet, a cup-like member pivotally mounted on the supporting plate, a handset adapted to rest on the cu a-like member, switching means controlled by the cup-like member, dialing means mounted on said plate,- and a lamp mounted on said topr walls.

A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top 1 f walls, a supporting plate mounted within the side walls of the cabinet, instrumentalities ine cluding all the elements required at a telephone substation mounted on said supporting plate, and a lamp mountedon said'top walls.

t. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls, a supporting plate mounted within the cabinet, a telephone handset supported by said plate, switching means carried by said; plate, a pivoted member on said plateadapted toA support said handset and actuate said switching means in accordance with the placing andv removing of said handset and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

5. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp 11o holder comprising a base having side and top walls, a pivoted member comprising; a cuplilte support and a inger portion mounted within the said walls of said cabinet, a handset adapted to rest on said cup-like support, switching means controlled by said iinger portion, and al lamp mounted on said top walls. v

6. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprisingy a base having side and top walls,` a supporting plate mounted within the cabinet, a second supporting plate carried thereby, a cup-like member pivotally mounted on the' second supporting plate, a handset;V

walls, a supporting plate mounted within the side walls of the cabinet, instrumentalities including a handset, induction coil, switches, dial, ringer, condenser, cord take-up and terminals mounted on said supporting plate, and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

8. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls, supporting means mounted within the cabinet comprising a substantially vertical plate and a horizontal plate, a dial supported by said vertical plate, a telephone handset supported by said horizontal plate, and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

9. A. combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls, supporting means mounted within the cabinet comprising a substantially vertical plate and a horizontal plate, a dial, induction coil and ringer carried by said vertical plate, a condenser, cord take-up and switching means carried by said horizontal plate, a pivoted member mounted on the horizontal plate, a handset adapted to rest thereon, a finger for said pivoted member to actuate said switching means, and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

10. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls, supporting means mounted within the cabinet comprising a substantially vertical plate and a horizontal plate, a member pivotally mounted on the horizontal plate, a handset adapted to rest on the pivoted memf ber, switching means controlled by the pivoted member, dialing means mounted on the vertical plate, and a lamp mounted on said top walls.

1l. A combined telephone cabinet and lamp holder comprising a base having side and top walls, supporting means mounted Within the side walls of the cabinet comprising a substantially vertical plate and a horizontal plate, a ringer, induction coil and dialing means mounted on the vertical plate, a handset, a support therefor, switching means, condenser, cord take-up mounted on the horizontal plate, a lamp mounted on said top walls, and a door pivotally associated with said base for permitting access to the tele` phone equipment located in the cabinet.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 12th day of November, 1929.

- GEORGEK. THOMPSON. 

